Growing old(er) with faith The Liberating Word for Friday Bill and I both come from families in which the oldest member is the most revered. One of the greatest gifts our families gave us was teaching us to treasure growing old together. That has allowed us to celebrate the gifts that aging brings and face its challenges unafraid. Aging is not for the coward, but then neither is living. To be truly alive is to face every day and every stage of our lives with relentless hope. Howard Thurman was the first black dean of Boston University; he founded the first multiracial, interdenominational church in America; and he was a spiritual advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He wrote many inspired words, but this prayer seems fitting for us today: Give me the courage to live! Really live-not merely exist Live dangerously, Scorn risk! Live honestly, Daring the truth- Particularly the truth about myself! Live resiliently Ever changing, ever growing, ever adapting Enduring the pain of change As though twere the travail of birth. Give me the courage to live Give me the strength to be free And endure the burden of freedom And the loneliness of those without chains; Let me not be trapped by success, Nor by failure, nor pleasure, nor grief, Nor malice, nor praise, nor remorse! Give me the courage to go on! Facing all that waits on the trail- Going eagerly, joyously on, And paying my way as I go, Without anger or fear or regret Taking what life gives Spending myself to the full, Head high, spirit winged, like a god- On ... on ... till the shadows draw close. Then even when darkness shuts down, And I go out alone as I came, Naked and blind as I came- Even then, gracious God hear my prayer: Give me the courage to live! Amen. May God give you the courage to LIVE today and until your lifes finale. Blessings, Rev. Michael Piazza The Center for Progressive Renewal
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 21:26:29 +0000
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